How is it possible for Sir David Nicholson to keep his position and his title?

The lack of accountability with the NHS

7:00AM GMT 07 Mar 2013

SIR – Fred Goodwin, the former chief executive of the Royal Bank of Scotland, was vilified and stripped of his knighthood for presiding over an organisation that cost many people a great deal of money.

Sir David Nicholson, chief executive of the NHS, runs an organisation that has cost up to 1,200 people their lives, yet he retains his position and his knighthood.

Does accountability exist within the public sector?

Oliver Blount Camelford, Cornwall

SIR – One of the reasons that Sir David is refusing to contemplate resignation might be his belief in "jobs for life". He gave such a promise to all the staff of his first NHS trust in the late Eighties.

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We shouldn't be surprised that a one-time Communist Party member who joined the NHS from university shows little understanding of real-world responsibility.

Alasdair Ogilvy Iping, West Sussex

SIR – I get a feeling of déjà vu when I listen to Sir David and his rationale for staying on as head of the NHS.

When Charles Clarke, the Labour home secretary, was questioned about being in charge of a department regarded as being unfit for purpose, his response was along the lines of: "Exactly! That's why I should stay and sort it out, because I know how much of a shambles I've presided over".

It didn't work then, and it certainly shouldn't work now.

Ian Cross Alresford, Hampshire

SIR – Sir David has been picked on unfairly. It is the board's responsibility to ensure they have the necessary supervision in place to guarantee the executive is doing his job. They must have been asleep at their posts. Sir David is hiding behind this collective responsibility, but it still should not stop him resigning.

Michael Willis Stirling

SIR – The NHS is unmanageable and unaffordable, with unrealistic patient expectations and scarce resources. Given this unhappy situation, what is Sir David Nicholson's resignation going to achieve?

Dr Alexander Barber Camberley, Surrey

SIR – The NHS malaise stems from Labour coming to power in the Nineties. Frank Dobson, as health secretary, changed the recruitment of non-executives to NHS trusts into a circus of cronyism.

The NHS is just like any other business that needs to be well managed. It should not be filled to the rafters with non-medical staff.

James Lindon-Travers Cobham, Surrey

SIR – If Sir David was not aware of the excessive death rate at Stafford Hospital and did not initiate the target culture, what did he do to justify his eye-watering salary?

John Buggins Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands

Judging the judges

SIR – The fact that Lord Neuberger, Britain’s most senior judge, can rebuke Theresa May, the Home Secretary, shows the commendable independence of the judiciary (report, March 5), but it also shows an arrogance in which the legal, unelected tail is attempting to wag the democratically elected dog.

Attempts to subvert the democratic will are certain to provoke the legislator, Parliament, into creating a more prescriptive legal framework to bring legal judgment into line with public opinion.

Lord Neuberger and his colleagues will only have themselves to blame.

Tony JonesEastbury, Berkshire

SIR – Lord Neuberger is a civil servant and his salary is paid by the taxpayer.

Given that status, even from his exalted position, he should refrain from criticising an elected minister, who has been critical of him and his organisation. In defying the Home Secretary, judges are also cocking a snook at the electorate, who have made their position quite clear with regard to immigrants, criminality and the need to deport those offenders.

Judges know what the Government seeks – their actions show contempt for public opinion.

George H HintonTwickenham, Middlesex

Modern warfare

SIR – I am disappointed but not surprised that the Desert Rats, the Army’s most celebrated tank unit, will lose its heavy armour role when it returns to Britain (report, March 6). Warfare is always moving in different directions – the 7th Armoured Brigade will be re-equipped with light armoured reconnaissance vehicles for observation roles.

Looking back in history when the horse was in use, there were heavy cavalry units of dragoons for shock and awe, with hussars and lancers for skirmishing and reconnaissance tasks. The Armed Forces are being prepared for conducting more flexible roles in troubled areas. The reorganisation of 7th Armoured Brigade is not the end of the tank, as there are still units equipped with the Challenger.

Michael ClemsonHorsmonden, Kent

Horseriding in Austria

SIR – Frank Tomlin (Letters, March 6) describes holidays in Germany and the lack of British uptake. Quite a few Britons visit the other German-speaking country: Austria. Apart from skiing, one can also partake in horse riding.

The Lipizzaners are a horse of the highest breed. There are various horse riding centres, where one can go out for a fast canter on a Lipizzaner amid stunning scenery and blue skies.

John BarstowPulborough, West Sussex

Dating dilemmas

SIR – In my forties, having got divorced from my first husband and met a new man, I took him with me to church for Sunday service, which I attended weekly and was, therefore, well known to the vicar (Letters, March 4).

Feeling rather embarrassed as to how to introduce him on our exit from the church, I came up with the solution: “This is Reggie, who is new to the area.” I was even more embarrassed when both he and the vicar chortled with laughter.

It didn’t deter our relationship – we were later married.

Liz MeakinTunbridge Wells, Kent

Hothouse culture

SIR – I agree that “Children need warmth, not the cruelty of 'hothousing’ ” (Comment, March 4). In London, the only way to secure your children’s place at a competitive private school is to tutor them or to send them to a pre-prep whose sole purpose is to prepare children for the seven-plus.

Schools seem more interested in coming top of the league table by creaming off the brightest children than helping all the children to reach their potential and feel good about themselves.

My seven-year-old twins are in a fantastic, caring state school as I didn’t want to put them through the ordeal of being hothoused for the seven-plus. I am reminded of that Victorian adage, “Teach children with easy tasks and gentle means.” By following it, I suspect my children will be happier, and I will be richer.

Sian Jarvis London SE11

Protecting elephants

SIR – Your article “Battle to save African elephants waged on a new front” (telegraph.co.uk, January 9) attributed the illegal hunting of African elephants to the demands of “China’s rapidly expanding middle class”.

The Chinese government has always attached great importance to the protection of elephants and other endangered wildlife. We have promulgated a series of laws and regulations and established a joint law enforcement mechanism for this purpose. China is among the most heavy-handed in penalising ivory smugglers and has cooperated in international law enforcement. Its efforts have paid off significantly; such illegal activities have dropped markedly in recent years.

Some people have deliberately turned a blind eye to China’s achievements in protecting wildlife. We hope that they will adopt an objective view and come to see the responsible attitude taken by China.

He RulongSpokesman for the Chinese Embassy London W1

Directing history

SIR – You report (Arts, March 6) that Steven Spielberg, whose latest film Lincoln received such critical acclaim, is due to start work on a screenplay about Napoleon.

On May 20, 1802, Napoleon, as First Consul, reintroduced slavery into France and its colonies. It will be interesting to see how much coverage Spielberg gives to this.

Ian Savage Calcot, Berkshire

Supermarkets are the easy option for shoppers

SIR – Harry Wallop states that low price is the most important weapon possessed by supermarkets (“Supermarkets: our fatal attraction, Comment, March 5). I would say it is convenience.

Most people who work cannot get to a butcher, greengrocer or other small shop to buy their food before they close at 5pm. Even if they shopped at these local shops at weekends, they would still need to visit a supermarket during the week either to top up their shopping, or because they need something else.

Local shops cannot compete on the same level, and shoppers will always look for the easiest option first.

Ralph AndersonLondon SW11

SIR – Please give Tesco a break. When I started housekeeping 40 years ago there were numerous independent food shops on the high street, but they stocked very little and it was often of dubious freshness.

Farmers’ markets are pleasant places for the self-indulgent middle classes to browse. Artisan breads are attractive, but prohibitively expensive for anyone on a limited budget.

The range, quality and affordability of products available at supermarkets now is remarkable compared with high street shops in the past.

Imogene MastertonSawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire

SIR – I agree with Hugh Quick (Letters, March 5) that Tesco can change a town for the better. Tesco has the only free parking in town and I look forward to having a daily laugh with the checkout staff.

After some recent difficulty with my heart, I was advised by my cardiologist to visit Tesco every morning during the winter and walk the aisles for 20 minutes as briskly as was safe, thereby getting my daily exercise in the dry and warm. Yes, Tesco can be good for your health.